Platform-scale



R. Fe WOLCOTT.

Platform Scales.

Patented Nov. 1, i859.

t t Y W t w B UNITED srarns PATENT ormoni.

R. F. VOLGOTT, OF CLAREMONT, NEW' HAMPSHIRE.

PLATFORMS-SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 25,991, dated November 1, 1859.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, R. F. l/VoLcorr, of Claremont, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Platform-Scales; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a. part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a vertical section of my invention taken in the line al, a2, Fig. 3. Fig. 2, is a detached side view of the scale beam. Fig. 3, is a vertical section of my invention, taken in the line y, y, Fig. l. Fig. 4, isa plan or top view of the levers below the platform. Fig. 5, is an under view of one end of one of the platform beams. Fig. G, is a transverse section of ditto taken in the line .4, e, Fig. 5. Fig. 7, is a section of one of the hangers and plates, taken in the line e, e Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates lst, to an improvement in the scale beam. 2nd, to a mode of hanging the platform and applying the same to the levers which form a connection between it and the beam.

The object of the invent-ion is to enable the platform to adjust itself properly to the levers on which it rests, also to malte suitable provision against difficulties attending the winding or twisting of the platform timbers, and to facilitate the movement or adjustment of the weight of the beam and the noting of the weight of articles counterpoised on the platform.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A, represents sill pieces which form a box that contains the levers on which the platform B, rests. In two opposite end sills A, A, hangers C, C, are secured, two in each. These hangers are of hook-form at their upper parts, as shown at a, Fig. l, and they are secured to the end sills by being simply fitted into them. The lower end of each hanger has a horizontal projection o, in the upper surface of which a semi-circular recess o, is made to receive a corresponding-shaped projection d, at the under side of a plate e, which has a semi-circular recess f, in its upper surface, see Figs. l and 7. The recesses c, in the projections b, of the hangers as well as the recesses f, in the plates c, are oblong, and the recesses c, are at right angles to the recesses ff.

D, D, are two shafts each of which has an arm g, at its end of S-form, as shown clearly in Fig'. l, and at the ends of each arm a knife-edged projection is formed, one 71, extending downward, and the other z, extending upward, as shown clearly in Fig. l. The pendent projections 71, fit into the recesses f, of the plates e, as shown clearly in F ig. l.

F, F are two beams to which the flooring of the platform is attached. At the outer ends of each beam F, and at its under sides a plate G, is secured. rlhese plates have each an oblong semi-circular recess 2", made in them, said recesses being longitudinal with the beams.

To each plate G, two pendents j, j, project, one at each side, bot-h pendents being in line with the center of the recess 2'.. In each recess t', a corresponding shaped projection 7c, is fitted, the projection 7c, being at the upper side of a plate Z, which is slotted at each end to allow the pendents j, j, to pass through. The plates Z, are retained in proper position b v pins m, which pass through the pendents j, see more particularly Figs. 3, 5 and 6. In the under side of the plates Z, semi-circular recesses n, are made into which the projections 7L', of the arms g, it, as shown clearly in Fig. l.

To the center of each shaft I), a lever H, is attached. These levers project inward or toward each other and are connected by links 0, 0, to a lever I, one end of which is attached to the under side of the platform B, as shown at p, Fig. 3, and the other end attached to the lower end of a rod J, the upper end of which is attached to the scale beam K, at Q.

L, are links or hooks which are attached to the sills A, and to the platform B.

The scale beam K, is suspended to a horizontal bar M, as shown at N, and the beam is formed of two parts, a bar r, and a screw s, the latter being fitted in proper bearings t,

on the bar 1', and in the same plane with it. On the screw s, a nut O, is placed and from said nut a weight P, is suspended. To the outer end of the screw s, a handwheel Q, is attached, the periphery of which is graduated and has an index t, projecting over it, said index being attached to the outer bearing of the screw.

Into the screw s, a worm wheel R, gears, said wheel having its axis attached to a vertical rod u, which is secured to the bar r. The face of the worm wheel R, is graduated and an index v, which is attached to the upper end of rod u, projects down over its upper end. At the back or inner end of the bar r, a counterpoise o, is placed on a screw rod w. The rod w, being fitted in the end of the bar, as shown clearly in Figs. l and 2.

From the above description it will be seen that the platform is allowed to adjust itself perfectly in proper position, even in case of the twisting or winding7 of the platform beams F, a result due to unseasoned timber. This adjustment of the platform is due to the arrangement of the projections Z), plates e, on the hangers C, and the plates G, Z, attached to the under sides of the beams F, said arrangement of parts admitting of perfect bearings being obtained at all times on the knife edges L, 7L', of the shafts D, D. By having the lever I, connected to the platform B, the whole device is rendered compact and the platform self-sustaining. By

having the beam K, formed of a screw and bar as shown, the Weight P, may be readily adjusted and by having the wheels Q, R, connected with the screw s, as shown the weight of the article on the platform may be readily noted, the graduated wheel Q,

noting fractional parts of the weight indicated by the subdivision on the wheel R. The pitch -of the thread of the screw s, may be made as circumstances may require. For hay scales the thread is cut one revolution of a thread to the inch and the leverage is such that a twenty-two pound poise will draw 1,000 lbs. to each revolution of the screw, the fractional parts of a 1,000 being indicated on the wheel Q.

I do not claim broadly moving or adjusting the 'weight P, by means of a screw for that has been previously done; but,

l do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

l. The combination of the two graduated wheels Q, R, screw s, and bar r, arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Attaching the lever I, to the platform B, levers H, H, and rod J, when the above parts are arranged to operate as described.

3. The construction and arrangement of the fulcrum arms g, of the shafts D, projections Z), and plates c, of the hangers C, and the plates Gr, Z, of the beams F, F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

R. F. VOLCOTT.

Witnesses JAMES GOODWIN, TWILLIAM D. PIERCE. 

